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The attacker ran a short distance and made his getaway in the Lexus which was found burnt out in Ardee, Co Louth, on Wednesday night.

Gardai and a forensics team combed the cordoned off area for clues.

A witness told RTE Radio’s Liveline: “I was on the road and I heard ‘bang, bang’.

“Next thing I heard ambulances and guards. Next thing the whole place was covered.

“I didn’t see anyone. I just heard ‘bang, bang’ and people were running everywhere. There were guards everywhere. They were on the scene within two minutes.”

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During a press briefing Supt Murphy urged anyone with information to get in touch.

He said: “We’re appealing to anybody who was in the area at the time, anybody with a dashcam on their car, anybody who has any experience of bad driving of an 08-D black Lexus car to contact us.”

The scene of the shooting at Clonshaugh Road

He added the vehicle would have been driven dangerously at the Clonshaugh roundabout or at the M50/M1 junction heading towards Ardee.

It is understood Gately, who had been driving a northern registered car, had been living in Belfast. The vehicle, which had up to five visible bullet holes on the passenger’s window, was towed away from the area by officers at around 3.30pm for further investigation.

Witnesses should contact Ballymun Garda station on 016664400, the confidential line 1800 666 111 or any station.